Thoughts on Homeschooling

It is 2am and I just can't sleep.  My mind is on overdrive.  I have been thinking so much about Carden going to school.  It is just coming TOO quick.  We keep getting all this mail on who his teacher is and back to school night...  I just can't believe he is really GOING TO SCHOOL!!!

My thoughts of homeschooling have been set aside because Justin and I feel that the schools are good and Carden needs that interaction with others.  But here are my TRUE thoughts on why I really want to home school...

This song comes to my mind, "I have a family here on Earth.  They are so good to me. I want to share my life with them...!"  I really do want to share my life with them.  With Justin's new job I feel like the world is ROBING me with this time I get to share with him here on this Earth.  I know it is his role as a husband to provide but I just think that is TOO MUCH time away from our family!  We get to see Daddy just for dinner and bedtime?!  That is it? 

Now the school district is going to take my child?! Luckily not all day! But it will come.  I really am glad Kindergarten is only half day.  I would not be able to handle a FULL day.  I just think I will miss SO MUCH with Carden.  I LOVE watching him grow.  I love hearing him memorize things, sing songs, read books, count, add, subtract...   Those are things that I want to SEE and REMEMBER, not some teacher! 

Part of my patriarchal blessing says I will be good at training others.  I used to ONLY think that meant dance teacher, but maybe I will be good at training my children through school?!  I don't know.  Homeschooling does sound overwhelming.  I would for sure be nervous to do it all on my own, but it really would be worth it!    

I guess I should finish the rest of my song, "I have a family here on Earth.  They are so good to me.  I want to share my life with them THROUGH ALL ETERNITY!"  I guess I just need to remember that I will be with my family THROUGH ALL ETERNITY.  Even though right now I want to be selfish and KEEP MY FAMILY here with me I know that I will be with them forever.  I guess I will just have to adjust to having a kindergartener, just like I am adjusting to having a FULL TIME WORKING HUSBAND!!!:)  Lots of NEW adjustments for me right now.  I am loosing sleep over it but I think I will eventually be able to sleep again.  Goodnight.  
   

Comparison SHOT!

The TWINS at Mormon Battalion at 3 years old and 8 months old!  Too FUNNY!!  You can for sure see their personalities that young!

My four SWEEties!!!

Monterey with the Walkers!

 We were so lucky to head over to Monterey to visit our other close cousins the Walkers!  The drive was under three hours and I am sad we didn't visit them more!  They are about to take off to Germany for two years or so and we are going to MISS THEM!!!

This trip went so smooth!  I couldn't believe how well the kids did and how well the drive went!  I guess you can't go wrong with less than 3 hours in the car!!!  The kids keep asking to go have a sleep over again!!  They LOVED sleeping with all their cousins in one room!!  I wish I had taken a picture of all them sleeping together!!

 We had such a great time playing with Braxton, Merrick, Sophie, and baby PENNY!!!  Thanks so much for having us!  We had a BLAST!!  We took the kids to the aquarium and they loved seeing the sharks and jelly fish!  McKay even got into it!!

 It really is a COOL aquarium.  Lots to do and lots to see!!!  We probably only made it half way through!

 The weather was AWESOME!!!  We had 115 degree weather on our way out of Fresno, then when we got to Monterey it was 65!!!  It felt soooo GOOD!!!  During the day the high was 72!  Perfect.  I guess if I can't live in San Diego Monterey will do!!!!  :)

 The Walkers live on base and so they pretty much are on a reserve with tons of trails and the ocean!!  It was BEAUTIFUL!!

 The kids LOVED riding their scooters down the trails!  I enjoyed being out of the heat!!

 The kids climbed up the bank and slid down in the sand!! TOO COOL!

 More shows at the aquarium!

 Brooke loved playing dress up with Sophie!!!  Seriously something we never do!!

 What pretty princesses!!

 I ENJOYED holding this cute little GIRL!!!  She is one LUCKY PENNY!!

 McKay enjoyed riding this little bike!

 The BOYS were in CARS HEAVEN!  They didn't even sleep because they just wanted to RACE!!
Santa will have to remember this one for CHRISTMAS!!!  :)  

 We went to this awesome park that reminded me of Lake Havasu's park with three levels and awesome slides!

 This was my FIRST- Diet coke rockets with mentos!  Who knew?!  TOTALLY COOL!

 I have some video but still stink at putting video on my blog so here is a great picture!!  Look at those faces!!!  Haa haaa!!!

Our summer has been so wonderful being able to SEE SOOOO MANY cousins!!!  Thanks so much Makenna for letting us come!  We sure will miss you guys!!  Maybe we will be able to come visit you in GERMANY!!  (or in my dreams!!!!  :)  

Utah trip part 2

 Celebrated Uncle Jame's BIRTHDAY with some AMAZING cheese cake that Aunt Erin made!  Emma and Eva waiting to blow out the candle!

 The TREE SWING is always a HIT!  The kids lined up and took turns ALL DAY LONG swinging!

The Smith's sure do have a FUN house!!  Thanks for letting us come and stay!  The meals were of course so DELICIOUS!!  All the Sweeneys sure do know how to COOK!  The kids enjoyed playing with Halle, Eva, and baby NOAH!!

 Mom was tired so Carden decided to try!!!  :)  Such a sweetie!

 McKay was a little nervous about swinging so HIGH!!!  Carden is behind trying to hold him!

 McKay didn't want to be reverent during church so we had our own reverent time outside looking at the beautiful mountains!

 Brooke and Carden watch out SWEET 16!!!  They loved riding in this car!

 Slip n sliding!  Brrr the water was FREEZING!

 Hiked up to the temple!!  They all made it!

 But of course took some breaks on the way home from walking to the temple!!  They stopped at everyone's house and checked out the grass pad!

 Not to mention the sand box!!!  Past 9 o'clock and STILL LIGHT outside.  No sleeping for these little ones!

 Had to make a BYU stop to eat ICE CREAM!!!  mmmmmm!

 Toy stop just to play!

 Then to the spray ground!  McKay was a little under the weather.  Poor little guy.

 McKAY, Lucy, and Eva!

 Playing at the park!

 Livingston REUNION!  The kids had a blast!

 Shaved ice...

 popcorn...

 Fishing...

 lemonade!...

 suckers...all worn out!  Love Brooke's stash over in the cup holders!! haa haa!

 Playing DOCTOR.  Carden looks nervous at what Lois is about to perform! :)

 Brooke enjoying the Reunion!

All worn out!

The trip did wear us out!!!  We sure did have a lot of FUN in UTAH but it is hard being away from Daddy for a FULL week!  The kids also stayed up so late because it was light until 10pm and then woke up so early.  But that is what summer is all about!!  We enjoyed seeing cousins and playing NON STOP!!!  The drive back went well and we took a little stop in VEGAS!

 Carden's reading his next Raldahl book and this is him in the GLASS ELEVATOR!!

 Glad we got to come to make MEMORIES that won't be forgotten!!!  So glad we got to celebrate and see all our SWEENEY cousins!!!  The two day trip was well worth it!!!